Track shoes
Product 2025
Woman, Man
With the superb and intriguing Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide, we are far from Christopher McDougall’s book and the idea that minimalist shoes are the future. We are also far from the S/Lab models from the Kilian Jornet era, which had no cushioning. With Hoka paving the way for success with oversized soles, several brands have followed suit with kingsize cushioning.
Very well-finished and meticulously designed, the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide offers several surprises. Let’s start with its dynamic qualities, directly inherited from its sole. The energy return is superior to that of The North Face Vectiv Pro 2 with a carbon plate. The Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide offers excellent energy return, and this happens spontaneously: you don’t need to “search” for the shoe or overthink finding the right pressure point for a return of energy. The Salomon generously gives back. Yes, the rebound, very much like that of a road shoe, might surprise some. In any case, it encourages you to go fast and not overthink the rolling trails. The drop is 6 millimeters.
Cushioning is very present in the heel but also under the forefoot, which is very pleasant on descents. You don’t feel any rocks coming through under your feet. The pronounced cushioning can destabilize runners sensitive to proximity with the ground. With the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide, you feel quite elevated, and the foam offers little support for the arch. There’s a bit of roll and a loss of lateral precision. It’s worth noting that this Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide is designed more for varied trails, but not necessarily technical ones. However, on an ultra, you’re likely to face some off-camber sections… We feel a lack of stability, even though the heel is quite secure. The foam compresses quickly.
Another curiosity is the sole, which has alveoles (cells). During the tests, we had mixed opinions, but the idea of effectiveness seems to win out. On rocky sections, the alveoles improve grip thanks to the cavities. On grassy, earthy, or muddy sections, we didn’t notice any particular improvement in effectiveness. However, the lugs are effective due to the relatively soft rubber. We would have added a few more lugs in the heel.
The Quicklace system is efficient and seems less “aggressive” in terms of tightening—whether this is just perception or an actual change, we’re not sure. The stone guard is effective, well-integrated, and doesn’t create pressure points during flexion.
The toe box of the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide is wide. The foot is generally well-wrapped, with a pleasant comfort. We also appreciate the lightness of the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide. It is a unisex shoe.
An astonishing, energized shoe with a perforated sole and pronounced cushioning both front and back. A very bold design.
6 mm 
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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